News

Yesterday, Ed told you that This Week with George Stephanopoulos hired anti-gay pundit Laura Ingraham. Salon’s Alex Pareene says that’s just the latest step in a rightward lurch for the Sunday morning talk show, one that involves hiring conservative pundits who make for terrible television. But, really, if you want to watch a Sunday morning talk show, you should be watching Up with Steve Kornacki. Under Kornacki, Up is a lot more political, and Kornacki has turned out to be incredibly skilled at asking the tough questions that cut to the truth of the matter.

It’s finally happening. EW says that NBC has scheduled The Maya Rudolph Show for May 19. The variety special will feature appearances by Sean Hayes, Kristen Bell, Andy Samberg, Fred Armisen, Craig Robinson and Chris Parnell with a performance by Jannell Monae. The variety show is a genre that has struggled on TV (oh, Rosie, you tried) maybe Rudolph can make it work?

Maybe Bahama Knights can reunite to sing that song about banana daiquiris.

What is it like to be a television censor? Someone who works in Standards & Practices tries to explain in a Reddit AMA.

A cruise line is selling a tour that visits Game of Thrones locations in Ireland. Sorry, those wedding massacres have left me feeling paranoid about attending any kind of Game of Thrones-themed gathering.

Blue Mountain State co-creator Eric Falconer has turned to kickstarter to raise money to make a Blue Mountain State movie. Falcone says Netflix has really helped people to discover the raunchy comedy, but that hasn’t been enough to convince the studio to fund a movie.

CBS has issued a statement (in response to a photo posted on Instagram) clarifying that the network is not talking with Chelsea Handler as a replacement for Craig Ferguson as host of the Late Late Show. However, CBS’ syndicated division is meeting with Handler.

TV Land is developing a comedy, Impastor about a man on the run from his debts and ends up hiding out in a small town where the church has hired a gay pastor. That premise sounds like something that will… er, require a great script.

Wow. The second episode of Friends with Better Lives saw ratings drop 31 percent. Meanwhile, 2 Broke Girls’ first episode taking over How I Met Your Mother was down 35% from HIMYM’s average ratings.

Listings

Nature (PBS) Check local listings
Previously, Nature recreated Joe Hutto’s attempts to observe some wild turkeys in the excellent My Life as a Turkey. Tonight, we follow Hutto’s later efforts, taking two years to become a part of a wild mule deer herd in Wyoming.

That’s an animal face that could inspire a dozen Buzzfeed listicles.

Nova (PBS) Check local listingsNova’s series about animal intelligence continues with a look at how animals uses their senses or have an extra sense that allows them to function in ways we’re only now discovering. That includes dogs who can use smell to tell time or the differences in how dogs and wolves use their senses.

Arrow (CW) 8:00 PM ETSlade continues to act against Team Arrow, this time showing them they’re not safe by managing to ambush them in their own lair, leaving someone headed to the hospital. I have a feeling the visceral hate Deathstroke inspires in me from those Titans comics is going to get worse.

Melissa & Joey (ABC Family) 8:00 PM ETMel gets to have her own Anthony Weiner moment thanks to her dad (former Prince Charming Christopher Rich) who’s supposed to help launch Mel’s campaign but just manages to derail it with his attempt at sending a selfie. The amazing Judy Gold also shows up to make things even better.

I’m guessing Judy Gold is playing Mel’s campaign manager based on the expression of weary annoyance.

Baby Daddy (ABC Family) 8:30 PM ETBonnie makes the mistake of turning to the guys when she wants to get back with her ex-boyfriend. Things quickly get complicated from there.

Revealing (Sundance) 9:00 PM ETJoe Zee’s back, this time looking at how the power of a brand-name label and how knock-off labels affect the fashion industry.

Million Dollar Listing New York (Bravo) 9:00 PM ETFrederik has a listing that’s fabulous but has a commons charge that’s chasing people away. You know the drill, this is where he tries to convince the seller to lower the price.

The Americans (FX) 10:00 PM ET
First Elizabeth finds out her daughter is spending time in church meeting rooms, dosing herself on the opiate of the masses, now Phillip is admitting to her that sometimes he enjoys the luxuries of life in the United States.

Flipping Out (Bravo) 10:00 PM ET
With Jenni still on leave, things are getting busy at the firm and Jeff is living the expression “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”.

Hot in Cleveland (TV Land) 10:00 PM ET
It’s come down to faking Victoria’s death in order to join her fugitive husband — and Elka throwing the fake funeral, which will have Susan Lucci as one of its attendees. I’m not sure if she’s there at eulogize her rival or just to check the casket.

As they say on the soaps, never believe someone’s dead until you’ve seen the body.